Automatic train-pipe coupling.



Nq. 890,831. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908. R. E. ADREON.'

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED 0cm. 81,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' WITNESSES INVENTOR 1H: NORRIS PETERS co., vush'mizruu. 0. c7

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E ADREON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE AUTOMATIC AIR & STEAM COUPLER COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. ADREON, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train-Pipe Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic train pipe couplings for railway cars, and more particularly to that type of coupling in which the coupling heads, or sections, are provided with lateral port openings, as shown in prior patents No. 649,472, of May 15, 1900, and No. 741,699, of Oct. 20, 1903.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide improved means for preventing the coupler heads from jamming during the operation of coupling cars together upon sharp curves.

Another object is to provide improved means for adjustablysuspending the outer or forward end of the coupler head from the knuckle pin of the car coupler, which means may also be readily attached to the knuckle pin without the use of special tools. And a further object is to provide an improved means for making the gaskets in the port openings register more accurately with each other and thereby obtain a full and unobstructed passage through the joint.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one form of apparatus embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 a horizontal section through one of the coupling heads, or sections; Fig. 3 a similar horizontal section showing two counterpart heads, or sections, coupled together in the position at which the gaskets engage each other concentrically and slightly in advance of the final clamped position of the heads; Fig. 4 a similar view showing a portion of the heads carrying the gaskets in the final clamped position; and Fig. 5 a side view showing the coupling face of one of the heads.

According to the construction shown, the coupler head comprises a casting 1, having a forwardly tapered shoe portion 2 with diverging guide flanges 3, and also provided with a side port opening 4, in which is located the gasket 5 for engaging a similar gasket in the adjacent counterpart coupling head when the two are coupled together. The train pipe 6 communicates with the openings in the coupler head.

At the rear of the coupler head is secured the bow-shaped or curved spring 7, which extends through the hanger 8 and again forward opposite the face of the coupler head for engaging a counterpart coupler and clamping the heads together.

The forward end of the curved clamping spring is bent outwardly at an angle for engaging the tapered shoe of a counterpart coupling head and assist in the gathering during the operation of coupling.

The hanger 8 may be suspended from a bracket 9 of the car coupler 10 and has a pivoted spring actuated buffer 12 for engaging the curved clamping spring, all of which corresponds substantially with the form of apparatus shown and described in the previous patents above referred to.

In making an automatic coupling upon a sharp curve, it sometimes happens with the prior form of apparatus that the bent end of the curved spring engages the opposite shoe too far back and permits the nose of the coupler head to strike the outwardly bent ing a'jamming of the heads, which prevents a successful coupling action. In order to prevent this I provide an additional bufling flange 13 inclined at an angle and vertically located between the guide flanges 3, so that if one of the springs should strike the opposite shoe back of its normal position it will engage the flange 13 and prevent the nose of its coupler head from striking the outwardly flared end of the opposite bow-spring, thereby forcing the head into its proper clamping position. In this manner all jamming of the heads is prevented and the parts are successfully coupled together, even upon sharp curves in the track.

Another feature of my invention relates to a chain, or other device, by which the forward part of the head is suspended. This chain was formerly attached at its upper end to a separate bracket carried by the hanger, but according to my present improvement this bracket is dispensed with and a collar 14 is provided, adapted to fit loosely over the end of the knuckle-pin 11, and having a circular slot 15 through which passes the cotter-pin 16. A hook 17 is also formed on the collar 14 for holding the chain 18, the lower end of which has a link 19 with a series of holes 20, and a pin 21, for adjustably connecting the same to the coupler head. By this means the chain may be readily attached to the portion of the opposite spring, thereby causknuckle in without the use of any special tools, and the elevation of the forward end of the shoe may be easily adjusted to any desired amount.

According to the construction shown in the prior patents above mentioned, the face of. the coupling head is provided with a tongue and groove and an intermediate shoulder 22 having an inclined face 23 arranged with its middle portion vertically in line with the center of the gasket opening. With this construction, when the parts are brought together for coupling," the faces of the gaskets will engage eachv other before the inclined faces 23 of the shoulders have moved upon each other to the central position, conse quently the openings through the gaskets will be slightly eccentric to each other, thereby forming a slight obstruction in the passage through the joint. After the faces of the gaskets come together in coupling they will not, as a rule, slide upon each other during the remainder of the movement of the heads upon each other to the final clamped position, but will merely bend or be slightly distorted during this final movement.-

Another feature of my present improvement comprises locating the gasket with its center slightly in advance of the center of the inclined face of the shoulder, as indicated by the distance between the dotted center lines in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings, whereby the gasket openings will be concentric and accurately register with each other when the faces of the gasket make contact in the operation of the coupling, as indicated in Fig. 3, and will bend slightly during the remainder of the movement of the heads upon each other to the final clamped position, but still preserve the concentric engagement of the gasket openings as clearly indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawing. In this manner a free and unobstructed passage is maintained through the joint, the advantages of which are apparent.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a train pipe coupling, a coupler head having a lateral opening, a curved spring for clamping said head with a counterpart coup ling head, guide flanges and a bufling flange for engaging the spring ofa counterpart coupling head.

2. In a train pipe coupling, a coupler head having a lateral opening, a curved clamping spring connected to the head and having its forward end bent outward, guide flanges and an inclined buffing flange formed on the head for engaging the flaring end of the clamping spring of a counterpart coupling head.

3. In a train pipe coupling, a coupler head having a lateral opening with a gasket, and a shoulder having an inclined face, the gaskets in counterpart coupling heads being arrangedto register with concentric engagement at the jime that the same contact together in coup- 4. In a train pipe coupling, a coupler head having a lateral opening with a gasket, and a shoulder having aninclined face, the center of the gasket opening being slightly forward of the center of the inclined face of the shoulder.

5. The combination with a car coupler, of a train pipe coupling, and means adapted to be attached to the ordinary knuckle pin of the car coupler for supporting the forward portion of the pipe coupling.

6. The combination with a car coupler, of a train pipe coupling, a collar loosely mounted on the lower end of the' knuckle pin of the car coupler, and a flexible hanger connecting said collar to the train pipe coupling head.

7. The combination with a car coupler, of a train pipe coupling, a hook secured to the lower end of the knuckle pin of the car coupler, and an adjustable chain attached to said hook for supporting the forward end of the train pipe coupling.

8. The combination with a car coupler, of a train pipe coupling, a collar having a hook mounted on the lower end of the knuckle pin of the car coupler, and a chain attached to said hook and having an adjustable connection with the train pipe coupling head.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 0

ROBERT E. ADREON. Witnesses:

E. A. WRIG T, J. B. MAoDoNALD 

